Project Summary
The San Bernardino National Forest sits next to some large population centers, and provides some of the principle outdoor recreation opportunities for these communities. Lytle Creek on the San Bernardino National Forest is visited by tens of thousands of people each year, who enjoy picnicking, hiking, and cooling off in the creek. This heavy use results in negative impacts to water quality, riparian vegetation and habitat, and other issues including excessive trash and user conflicts. The Forest wants to improve and upgrade the recreation facilities and infrastructure in the area in order to accommodate visitors and better protect the creek ecosystem.
Southern California is expected to get warmer on average in the future, and to experience a higher number of extreme heat days. This is expected to draw more users and add to Lytle Creeks’ challenges. Managers are also concerned about drought and streamflow changes, extreme precipitation events and wildfire activity, and the effects they could have on the creek ecosystem and visitor safety as the climate continues to change. The forest used the Adaptation Workbook to think about climate informed actions for this project as they perform NEPA analysis.
Southern California is expected to get warmer on average in the future, and to experience a higher number of extreme heat days. This is expected to draw more users and add to Lytle Creeks’ challenges. Managers are also concerned about drought and streamflow changes, extreme precipitation events and wildfire activity, and the effects they could have on the creek ecosystem and visitor safety as the climate continues to change. The forest used the Adaptation Workbook to think about climate informed actions for this project as they perform NEPA analysis.
Project background and scope
The San Bernardino National Forest is initiating environmental analysis to improve recreation facilities in the Lytle Creek area. In an effort to make the project climate-informed and to reduce future climate related risks, the SBNF worked with NIACS, the California Climate Hub, and Forest Service Region 5 to consider regional climate projections and what they might mean for the project area.
Project Process and Implementation
The Interdisciplinary team on the SBNF followed the adaptation workbook process to intentionally include climate change considerations in project development. They first outlined the management goals and objectives for the Lytle Creek project. Then, they considered how regional climate changes were expected to play out in the project area and how this might challenge or support their objectives. Finally, they developed a list of adaptation tactics to consider as they move forward on NEPA analysis for this project, and discussed ways to monitor the success of those adaptation actions.
Project Outcomes
Climate change effects that were particularly important for the Lytle Creek project included projected higher number of extreme heat days. This is expected to draw more users and add to Lytle Creeks’ current challenges. Managers are also concerned about drought and streamflow changes which may result in the creek drying out earlier or in different areas, affecting fish species, riparian habitat, and visitor patterns. Increases in extreme precipitation events could affect both water quality and visitor safety, as could increases in wildfire activity.
A subset of the adaptation actions that are being considered in response to these challenges are listed in the ‘adaptation approaches’ section.
Management Objectives
- Develop facilities and infrastructure that are high-quality, safe, and provide visitor opportunities without degrading natural resources
- Direct use away from sensitive areas and/or minimize adverse impacts
- Maintain high-quality riparian habitat within Lytle Creek watershed
Recreation approaches:
Redirect visitor access away from at-risk areas (Recreation menu 3.1)
Relocate existing infrastructure and opportunities to areas with less risk of climate-induced damage (Recreation menu 6.3)
Tactics:
- Develop designated parking spaces, and new parking/recreation areas to help disperse visitor use
- Add shade structures at picnic areas to help disperse picnicking outside of riparian corridor
- Develop interpretive and educational site at Lytle Creek Station for a recreation opportunity away from the creek
- Consider a seasonal shuttle service through the canyon
- Consider a partnership with utility company to divert water into dry channels (for recreation)
Optimize timing of opportunities to align with changing conditions (Recreation menu 3.2)
Tactic:
- Ensure enforcement staff and coverage are available for heavy recreation season (possible expansion into shoulder seasons)
Tactic:
- Work with telecommunications companies to get cell service into the canyon (for rideshare, emergency communication)
Recreation approach numbers reference the Recreation Menu by the Climate Change Response Framework.
Forested watershed approaches:
Moderate surface water temperature increasesMaintain or restore vegetative cover in riparian areas
Tactics:
- Plant native species, and stabilize streambanks with riparian vegetation.
- Restore undesirable social (user-created) trails.
- Direct users away from areas being restored, using signage and educating employees that are interacting with the public.